Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Of the many wonderful things to be thankful for this morning, the mini-edition 5-at-10 offers the rich joy that is a great college football rivalry.
From the “Mama McNabb stage here at the beautiful Al Davis Studios,” here we go…
A lot goes into making a great college football rivalry, but all parts are not created equally and each piece must be graded on its merits. Some great rivalries are in-state; some are separate by 2,000 miles. Some are in conference; some are not. Some have funky names; some don’t. But the great ones – the all-consuming, bragging about it year-round, there’s no way to avoid it rivalries – each share a passion that tippy-toes the jagged edge of intensity and insanity.
No matter what they are called – The Iron Bowl, The Red River Rivalry, etc. – these games are The Game to the players, coaches and most overwhelmingly the fans.
1) Auburn-Alabama. This one has everything. Everything. In fact it has too much of it. The old rivalry cliche is “I don’t care if we go 1-11 as long as that one is _.” That’s hogwash of course – no true fan wants his or her team ever to go 1-11, regardless of the situation. This game is the closest to that cliche being true, however.